Below is a summary of each grant beneficiary selected by the Sharks Foundation for 2016-17:
2016-17 GRANT RECIPIENTS
Total Grant Funding Distributed: $300,000Total Number of Beneficiaries: sevenTotal Number of people impacted: 9,361
Organization:ALearn
Area Served:Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties
Total number of people impacted annually:1,100
Focus Area:Education
Name of Program:Closing the Achievement Gap in Middle School Math
Program Description:ALearn is seeking funding for critical math assistance for low-income, underserved students in San Jose middle schools. This grant will help fund four classes of middle school students who are trying to come up to grade level with their peers. The focus is middle school math because it is the subject that low-income students struggle with the most. Algebra 1 is one of the strongest predictors of high school success and consequently college success. ALearn's summer programs supplement the school year for low-income students who might have otherwise encountered "summer learning loss" not experienced by their higher income peers. To learn more about ALearn,
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Organization:Breakthrough Silicon Valley
Area Served: San Jose
Total number of people impacted annually:346
Focus Area: Education
Name of Program: Breakthrough Silicon Valley Middle School Program
Program Description: Breakthrough Silicon Valley's Middle School Program provides supplemental academic enrichment, closes academic skills gaps, and instills a college-going mindset during students' 7th and 8th grade years. We work closely with parents to help them understand their role in making college part of their children's future. In addition, we build our students' confidence and develop the resiliency and other non-cognitive skills they need to overcome inevitable roadblocks on the journey to and through college. For more information on Breakthrough Silicon Valley,
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Organization:George Mark Children's House
Area Served:Bay Area
Total number of people impacted annually:400
Focus Area:Health and Safety
Name of Program: Pediatric Palliative Care for Santa Clara County Families with Children with Life-Limiting Illness
Program Description:The Palliative Care Program provides the medical care and psychosocial support needed to enable children facing life-limiting illnesses to live their life to the fullest and to empower families to successfully manage this profound challenge. George Mark serves medically eligible children ages 0-21 (and young adults up to age 27 on a case-by-case basis) regardless of families socioeconomic status and parents never see a bill for services. Funds will support the salaries of clinical staff, primarily nurses, medical supplies, and other program costs. For more information on George Mark Children's House,
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Organization: Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford
Area Served:Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco counties
Total number of people impacted annually: 400
Focus Area:Health and Safety
Name of Program:Mobile Adolescent Health Services Program
Program Description: The Sharks Foundation grant will support the Mobile Adolescent Health Services program. Through multiple targeted services, we strive to help at-risk youth treat their medical issues, so that they can achieve success in all areas of life. For more information on Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford,
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Organization: Montalvo Arts Center
Area Served:Santa Clara County
Total number of people impacted annually: 6,000
Focus Area:Education
Name of Program:Performing Arts Series for Students
Program Description:Montalvo Arts Center's Performing Arts Series for Students (PASS), serves 6,000 K-8 students annually with exceptional live theatre experiences to ignite a passion for learning and to enhance their classroom learning. Equity access is a priority for Montalvo and PASS is a key vehicle for outreach to underserved youth. Each year, Montalvo serves an average of 3,000 K-8 students from Title 1 and other under-resourced schools, providing them with free tickets and transportation subsidies to attend this high-quality and engaging performance series. For more information on Montalvo Arts Center,
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Organization:Students Rising Above
Area Served: Santa Clara County
Total number of people impacted annually:900
Focus Area:Education
Name of Program:College and Career Success for Low-Income Youth in Santa Clara County
Program Description:Funding will support its College and Career Success Services for low-income students in Santa Clara County. Services are distributed via two distribution channels: 1) SRA's 18-year "in-person" program, which provides mentoring, tutoring, college and financial aid application assistance, college persistence support, career development, and internships; and 2) the new SRA College2Careers Hub, a free online community and resource which offers free college, financial aid, and career guidance from SRA's team of professional and experienced counselors. With support from the Sharks, SRA will increase the number of students served in Santa Clara County from 572 currently to 900 by spring 2017. For more information on Students Rising Above,
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Organization:Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Area Served:San Francisco Bay Area
Total number of people impacted annually: 315
Focus Area:Character Development
Name of Program:Youth and Family Recreational Services and When I Grow UP
Program Description:Both of Vista Center's programs support developmental growth by encouraging independence, teaching new skills, traveling safely in a variety of environments, building self-confidence by participating in activities, fostering friendships, and inspiring visually impaired youths to envision their future as successful individuals despite their vision loss. Vista Center provides a network of support in the Bay Area for families with visually impaired children to meet with each other to share their concerns, challenges and dreams for their children's future. For more information on Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired,
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